| Title | Chironomids from Southern Alpine running waters: ecology, biogeography |
| Abstract | The chironomid fauna living in running waters in the southern Alps was investigated from a taxonomical, ecological and biogeographical point of view: 202 species were identified (not including terrestrial species). It must be emphasised that species identification is tentative within some genera, especially those awaiting revision (e.g., Boreoheptagyia, Syndiamesa, Chaetocladius). Although much taxonomic work was done in the past on the chironomid Alpine fauna, there are still many unsolved problems.
Most of the species found are widespread in the Palearctic Region, with no evidence of bio-geographical barriers separating different Alpine sectors. Really a relatively high number of species reported from the northern and western side (France, Switzerland, Austria) of the Alps were not captured on the southern side (Italy), whereas most of those found on the southern side are also present on the northern one. Very few species are reported from southern side only. Lack of sampling, imperfect taxonomic knowledge and different environmental conditions between the northern and southern sides may be responsible of this result. A comparison of the fauna of the southern Alps with the fauna of the Apennines suggests that in this case the differences are probably more related to ecological conditions (lack of glaciers in the Apennines) than to biogeographical barriers.
Different chironomid assemblages colonise manifold habitat types: strict cold-stenothermal species tolerating high current velocity (e.g., Diamesa latitarsis - steinboecki group) are almost the sole inhabitants of kryal biotopes, while other cold-stenothermal species are restricted to cold springs (Diamesa dampfi, D. incallida, Tokunagaia rectangularis, T. tonollii), there are also species characteristic of hygropetric habitats (Syndiamesa edwardsi, S. nigra) or restricted to lacustrine habitats (Corynoneura lacustris, Paratanytarsus austriacus). It must be emphasised that different responses to environmental factors can be observed between species belonging to the same genus (e.g., Diamesa, Eukiefferiella, Orthocladius, Paratrichocladius), so species identification is really needed for a good ecological work. Water temperature, current velocity, substrate type are the most critical factors, sometime chironomid species appear to be rather opportunistic and their presence or absence cannot be clearly related to a well defined range of values of environmental variables: be it a lack of knowledge or a real datum will be the task of future studies.
The waters of the Alps are still relatively unpolluted, but hydraulic stress due to river damming and canalization is a serious problem for macrofauna conservation, and as the glaciers retreat the species confined to the glacial snouts are at risk of extinction, some of them possibly even before their existence be discovered. |
| Source | Hydrobiologia (The Hague. Print) 562, pp. 231–246 |
| Keywords | Chironomidaehigh altitude streamstaxonomyautoecologybiogeography |
| Journal | Hydrobiologia (The Hague. Print) |
| Editor | Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, Paesi Bassi |
| Year | 2006 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| Authors | Rossaro B.(1), Lencioni V.(2), Boggero A., Marziali L.(1) |
| Text | 52907 2006 Chironomidae high altitude streams taxonomy autoecology biogeography Chironomids from Southern Alpine running waters ecology, biogeography Rossaro B. 1 , Lencioni V. 2 , Boggero A., Marziali L. 1 1 Dipartimento di Zoologia, Sez. Ecologia, Universita di Milano; 2 Sezione di Zoologia Invertebrati e Idrobiologia, Museo Tridentino di Scienze Naturali Trento The chironomid fauna living in running waters in the southern Alps was investigated from a taxonomical, ecological and biogeographical point of view 202 species were identified not including terrestrial species . It must be emphasised that species identification is tentative within some genera, especially those awaiting revision e.g., Boreoheptagyia, Syndiamesa, Chaetocladius . Although much taxonomic work was done in the past on the chironomid Alpine fauna, there are still many unsolved problems. Most of the species found are widespread in the Palearctic Region, with no evidence of bio geographical barriers separating different Alpine sectors. Really a relatively high number of species reported from the northern and western side France, Switzerland, Austria of the Alps were not captured on the southern side Italy , whereas most of those found on the southern side are also present on the northern one. Very few species are reported from southern side only. Lack of sampling, imperfect taxonomic knowledge and different environmental conditions between the northern and southern sides may be responsible of this result. A comparison of the fauna of the southern Alps with the fauna of the Apennines suggests that in this case the differences are probably more related to ecological conditions lack of glaciers in the Apennines than to biogeographical barriers. Different chironomid assemblages colonise manifold habitat types strict cold stenothermal species tolerating high current velocity e.g., Diamesa latitarsis steinboecki group are almost the sole inhabitants of kryal biotopes, while other cold stenothermal species are restricted to cold springs Diamesa dampfi, D. incallida, Tokunagaia rectangularis, T. tonollii , there are also species characteristic of hygropetric habitats Syndiamesa edwardsi, S. nigra or restricted to lacustrine habitats Corynoneura lacustris, Paratanytarsus austriacus . It must be emphasised that different responses to environmental factors can be observed between species belonging to the same genus e.g., Diamesa, Eukiefferiella, Orthocladius, Paratrichocladius , so species identification is really needed for a good ecological work. Water temperature, current velocity, substrate type are the most critical factors, sometime chironomid species appear to be rather opportunistic and their presence or absence cannot be clearly related to a well defined range of values of environmental variables be it a lack of knowledge or a real datum will be the task of future studies. The waters of the Alps are still relatively unpolluted, but hydraulic stress due to river damming and canalization is a serious problem for macrofauna conservation, and as the glaciers retreat the species confined to the glacial snouts are at risk of extinction, some of them possibly even before their existence be discovered. 562 Published version Articolo in rivista Kluwer Academic Publishers 0018 8158 Hydrobiologia The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia. The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia Dordrecht The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia Boston The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia London The Hague. Print angela.boggero BOGGERO ANGELA laura.marziali MARZIALI LAURA TA.P02.014.002 Impatto dei cambiamenti globali sugli ecosistemi acquatici |
